CALENDAR of EVENTS for 2026
The annual Dermot Lane Seminar, in honour of theologian Dermot Lane, PP Emeritus of Balally Parish, will take place on Saturday 03 October 2026 from 10 am to 1 pm. The guest speaker, Dr Tony Bates, is a renowned clinical psychologist, writer, and national mental health leader with over four decades of experience in clinical practice,
Dr Bates will address the theme Awakening the Heart from a contemplative and a psychological perspective. Entry €15 on the day – for further information email cinziaangius@balallyparish.ie
Tony is the founder and former CEO of Jigsaw – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health. He was co-editor of Ireland’s National Mental Health Policy ‘A Vision for Change‘, and pioneer of psychotherapy and mindfulness-based interventions. He is also the author of three best selling self-help books on depression, trauma, and mental health care
Dr Barry White will lead a series of four talks on Monday evenings in October as an introduction to the practice of Christian Meditation. The series will be suitable for beginners and experienced meditators alike – John Main often said that we are all beginners and that every time we sit down to meditate we begin anew.
Running on Monday 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th October from 7:30 to 8:30 pm, each talk will include a period of silent meditation. Barry, a Consultant Haematologist from Dublin, has developed an expertise in the area of meditation and health and is a member of the Guiding Board of the World Community for Christian Meditation.
Heather Kearon, who leads a new meditation group in Cahirciveen, has organised a special event to celebration the centenary of Dom John Main OSB to take place on Saturday 10th October 2026, beginning at 10:30am and concluding at 4 pm, followed by Mass for those who wish to stay on. Guest speaker Fr Donagh O’Shea will address the theme ‘A Hundred Roads to Here: An Introduction to Meditation.’
The event will take place at Ballinskelligs Community Centre, Eircode V23 DT28. Tea and Coffee will be provided on arrival from 9:30am. Participants are asked to bring a packed lunch and tea and coffee will be available. A donation of €10 is suggested to cover costs. To register, phone 087 1274903 or 087 2687615 or email: heather.kearon@gmail.com
Also on Saturday 10 October 2026, Dr Bernard McDonald, an oblate of the World Community for Christian Meditation, will lead a day of reflection on the theme ‘Contemplation and Meditation in the Second-half of Life: Towards a Better Way of Being.’ The event will take place at An Tobar Retreat and Spirituality Centre, at Ardbraccan, Navan, Co Meath, C15 XD6H. The workshop will use a mix of reading, discussion, presentations, life review, experiential sharing and meditation to explore what it means to age well in Ireland in 2026.
The Programme for the day will be as follows: 09:30 Coffee and Welcome 10.00 Session 1 – The Experience of Ageing 11.15 Coffee 11.30 Session 2 – Ageing and Contemplation 13.00 Lunch 14.00 Session 3 – Ageing and Spiritual Development 15.30 Session 4 – Meditation and Ageing 16.30 Review and Close To register for the workshop, contact: An Tobar 046 907 8973
For those who are already practicing meditation this retreat offers a unique opportunity to join with other practitioners and go to a deeper and simpler place – together in solitude into the ‘great silence’. There will be seven daily periods of meditation, times of contemplative walking and an opportunity for a 15-minute personal session with Liz. Apart from a short morning teaching by the retreat leader there are no spoken prayers or readings. It is a full silence and a loving and friendly experience of what the silence reveals to us . Many who have done it – once or annually – say it has re-simplified them and reminded them that they had not lost their innate capacity for inner peace and clarity. Places are limited – early booking is advised. The fee of €800 includes the retreat, accommodation and 3 excellent meals each day. For further information email cinziaangius@balallyparish.ie Liz Watson is a member of The World Community for Christian Meditation who focuses on teaching meditation in a wide range of settings – speaking and writing – leading retreats and offering spiritual direction.
WCCM’s Retreat Centre at Bonnevaux in France and Meditatio in London organise in-person and online events.
To find out more about their events, click on the respective images.
From time to time Christian Meditation Ireland (CMI) organises events through Eventbrite where places must be booked through Eventbrite in advance. Any such planned events will be listed below.
